House Fire Interrupts Secret Service Visit To Modesto Home
MODESTO (CBS13) - A man under federal investigation allegedly started a fire inside his home just as investigators approached the house to question him.
A Secret Service agent and local probation officers came to the home on River Road on Friday morning to investigate a man for making counterfeit money.
"While we were here, a house fire started," Stanislaus County probation officer Mark Ferriera said.
As officers tried to get the man to come to the door, they noticed smoke. Firefighters say officers kicked down the door to get inside the home and found the man in his bedroom and a fire burning.
Everyone made it out OK, including the man's elderly mother.
"Why would you set your mom's house on fire?" wondered neighbor Kenny Smith, who lives next door. "You got to be out of your mind."
Sources told CBS13 the man under investigation is Toby Green. According to jail records the 54-year-old was booked on resisting arrest and violation of probation charges.
Investigators carried away bags of evidence, including what appeared to be a charred computer.
People on the block say they never expected the feds to come knocking for a fake money investigation.
But what's even more shocking is the fire that followed.
"His mother could be dead right now you know," Smith said. "It ain't right. He's a nut. Straight up, you can't do that to your mother; she gave you life. Why would you do that?
